The latest from the NWS:
Winter Storm Warning continues until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 23rd!
...UNUSUAL WINTERTIME RAINFALL TO PERSIST THROUGH WEDNESDAY...
AN EXTREMELY WARM AND MOIST AIR MASS MOVING AROUND A LARGE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE NORTH PACIFIC WILL CONTINUE TO BRING WIDESPREAD RAIN AND FREEZING RAIN TO INTERIOR ALASKA.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS EXCEEDING ONE INCH ARE POSSIBLE IN FAIRBANKS AND THE REMAINDER OF THE CENTRAL INTERIOR THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT COMPACTING AND MELTING OF THE LOCAL SNOW PACK OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS.
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT RUNOFF FROM RAIN AND MELTING SNOW WILL CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND OTHER POOR DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW SPOTS. SIGNIFICANT OVERFLOW IS ALSO EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ON LAKES AND RIVERS...AND SOME SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS MAY EXPERIENCE ELEVATED WATER LEVELS.
COOLER AIR WILL SLOWLY FILTER IN TO THE REGION ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THE RAIN IS EXPECTED TO CHANGE BACK TO SNOW.
THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY EVENT FOR INTERIOR ALASKA. RAIN DURING THE WINTER IN FAIRBANKS IS UNUSUAL...BUT WHEN IT DOES OCCUR AMOUNTS ARE TYPICALLY VERY LIGHT. HOWEVER...RAIN AMOUNTS IN EXCESS OF A QUARTER INCH OF RAIN...EVEN OVER SEVERAL DAYS...ANYTIME BETWEEN MID-NOVEMBER AND EARLY APRIL ARE EXTREMELY RARE. THE LAST TIME FAIRBANKS HAD THAT MUCH RAIN DURING THE WINTER WAS IN FEBRUARY 2003...WHEN 0.29 INCHES OF RAIN FELL BETWEEN THE 8TH AND 10TH. THE ONLY OCCURRENCE DURING THE SECOND HALF OF NOVEMBER OF SO MUCH RAIN WAS ON NOVEMBER 24 1936...WHEN 0.42 INCHES OF RAIN FELL. THE GREATEST WINTER RAINFALL OF RECORD IN FAIRBANKS OCCURRED ON JANUARY 20 1937...WHEN AN AMAZING 0.99 INCHES OF RAIN FELL ON TOP OF THE 25 INCHES OF SNOW THAT HAD FALLEN ON THE TWO PREVIOUS DAYS.
IT IS LIKELY THAT OVER AN INCH OF RAIN WILL FALL IN FAIRBANKS BEFORE THE RAIN CHANGES BACK TO SNOW WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Monday, November 22nd
WINTER STORM WARNING continues in effect until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday.
AN EXTREMELY WARM AND MOIST AIR MASS...MOVING AROUND A LARGE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE NORTH PACIFIC...WILL BRING PERIODS OF RAIN THROUGH TUESDAY. EVEN THOUGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE SLIGHTLY ABOVE FREEZING IN MANY AREAS...RAIN WILL RAPIDLY FREEZE ON EXPOSED SURFACES. DRIVING CONDITIONS WILL BECOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
Current Conditions at 5:30 a.m.:
Temperature: 28 degrees
Skies: Freezing Drizzle
BP: 29.96 and falling
RH: 94%
Winds: Calm
Sunrise: 9:51 a.m.
Sunset: 3:23 p.m.
7 Day Outlook from NWS:
Today...Freezing rain and areas of fog. Highs around 35. East winds to 10 mph.
Tonight...Periods of freezing rain and areas of fog. Lows 30 to 35. Light winds.
Tuesday...Periods of freezing rain and areas of fog. Highs around 35. Light winds.
Tuesday Night...Cloudy with a chance of rain. Lows 30 to 35. East winds to 10 mph.
Wednesday...Mostly cloudy. Highs around 35. East winds around 10 mph in the morning becoming light.
Wednesday Night...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows near 15.
Thanksgiving Day...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs near 15.
Thursday Night...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows near 10 below.
Friday...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs near zero.
Friday Night...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows near 15 below.
Saturday...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs near 10 below.
Saturday Night...Cloudy. Lows near 20 below.
Sunday...Mostly cloudy. Highs near 10 below.
AN EXTREMELY WARM AND MOIST AIR MASS...MOVING AROUND A LARGE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE NORTH PACIFIC...WILL BRING PERIODS OF RAIN THROUGH TUESDAY. EVEN THOUGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE SLIGHTLY ABOVE FREEZING IN MANY AREAS...RAIN WILL RAPIDLY FREEZE ON EXPOSED SURFACES. DRIVING CONDITIONS WILL BECOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
Current Conditions at 5:30 a.m.:
Temperature: 28 degrees
Skies: Freezing Drizzle
BP: 29.96 and falling
RH: 94%
Winds: Calm
Sunrise: 9:51 a.m.
Sunset: 3:23 p.m.
7 Day Outlook from NWS:
Today...Freezing rain and areas of fog. Highs around 35. East winds to 10 mph.
Tonight...Periods of freezing rain and areas of fog. Lows 30 to 35. Light winds.
Tuesday...Periods of freezing rain and areas of fog. Highs around 35. Light winds.
Tuesday Night...Cloudy with a chance of rain. Lows 30 to 35. East winds to 10 mph.
Wednesday...Mostly cloudy. Highs around 35. East winds around 10 mph in the morning becoming light.
Wednesday Night...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows near 15.
Thanksgiving Day...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs near 15.
Thursday Night...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows near 10 below.
Friday...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs near zero.
Friday Night...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows near 15 below.
Saturday...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs near 10 below.
Saturday Night...Cloudy. Lows near 20 below.
Sunday...Mostly cloudy. Highs near 10 below.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Winter Storm Warning!
WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM MONDAY TO 3 AM AKST TUESDAY FOR FREEZING RAIN...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR FREEZING RAIN...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM MONDAY TO 3 AM AKST TUESDAY.
THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
AN EXTREMELY WARM AND MOIST AIR MASS...MOVING AROUND A LARGE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE NORTH PACIFIC WILL BRING STEADY RAIN STARTING EARLY MONDAY. EVEN THOUGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE SLIGHTLY ABOVE FREEZING IN MANY AREAS...RAIN WILL RAPIDLY FREEZE ON EXPOSED SURFACES. DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD BECOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FAIRBANKS HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR FREEZING RAIN...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM MONDAY TO 3 AM AKST TUESDAY.
THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
AN EXTREMELY WARM AND MOIST AIR MASS...MOVING AROUND A LARGE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER THE NORTH PACIFIC WILL BRING STEADY RAIN STARTING EARLY MONDAY. EVEN THOUGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE SLIGHTLY ABOVE FREEZING IN MANY AREAS...RAIN WILL RAPIDLY FREEZE ON EXPOSED SURFACES. DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD BECOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
Friday, November 19, 2010
November 19th Snow Total
Okay, I stand corrected and am in total shock. If you read my last post, I thought that our snow total from last night's storm would be well under 1 inch. After I sent my husband out into the cold to measure, he came back in with his report. Are you ready for this? It was a whopping 1.8 inches! I would have NEVER guessed it would have been that much. Oh, well! Happy Friday!!!!
TGIF, November 19th
Good morning and it's Friday! If you are in the Fairbanks area, the UAF Nanooks will be taking on Northern Michigan University in hockey at the Carlson Center tonight. It starts at 7:30 p.m. Nanook hockey is always a lot of fun!
We are starting the morning off with mostly cloudy skies. We did not get as much snow as some parts of the Fairbanks North Star Borough. It really didn't even begin to snow until late afternoon here in North Pole. While I have not taken a measurement, my guess is we had well under an inch.
Today, we will continue to see cloudy skies with highs in the upper teens. The NWS is still calling for highs around 30 or 35 on both Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully, we will not see the warm up and it will stay well below freezing.
Current Conditions at 6:30 a.m.:
Temperature: 9 degrees
Skies: Mostly Cloudy
BP: 30.45 and steady
RH: 86%
Winds: Calm
Sunrise: 9:41 a.m.
Sunset: 3:31 p.m.
7 Day Outlook from the NWS:
Today...Cloudy. Highs around 20. Light winds.
Tonight...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows 15 to 20. Light winds.
Saturday...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs 25 to 30. Light winds.
Saturday Night...Cloudy. Lows around 20. Light winds.
Sunday...Cloudy. Highs 30 to 35. Light winds.
Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows near 20.
Monday...Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs near 25.
Monday Night...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows near 20.
Tuesday...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs near 25.
Tuesday Night...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows near 5 above.
Wednesday...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs near 15.
Wednesday Night...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows near zero.
Thanksgiving Day...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs near 5 above.
We are starting the morning off with mostly cloudy skies. We did not get as much snow as some parts of the Fairbanks North Star Borough. It really didn't even begin to snow until late afternoon here in North Pole. While I have not taken a measurement, my guess is we had well under an inch.
Today, we will continue to see cloudy skies with highs in the upper teens. The NWS is still calling for highs around 30 or 35 on both Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully, we will not see the warm up and it will stay well below freezing.
Current Conditions at 6:30 a.m.:
Temperature: 9 degrees
Skies: Mostly Cloudy
BP: 30.45 and steady
RH: 86%
Winds: Calm
Sunrise: 9:41 a.m.
Sunset: 3:31 p.m.
7 Day Outlook from the NWS:
Today...Cloudy. Highs around 20. Light winds.
Tonight...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows 15 to 20. Light winds.
Saturday...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs 25 to 30. Light winds.
Saturday Night...Cloudy. Lows around 20. Light winds.
Sunday...Cloudy. Highs 30 to 35. Light winds.
Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows near 20.
Monday...Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs near 25.
Monday Night...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows near 20.
Tuesday...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs near 25.
Tuesday Night...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows near 5 above.
Wednesday...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs near 15.
Wednesday Night...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Lows near zero.
Thanksgiving Day...Cloudy with a chance of snow. Highs near 5 above.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thursday, November 18th
Good morning! It has warmed up and it looks like we may have some snow on the way. Areas to the North and East of Fairbanks are under a Winter Weather Advisory until 6:00 a.m. Friday. Snow totals could reach between 2 and 5 inches with the heaviest amounts in those North and East areas of the borough. Either way, it should make for a beautiful day!
With the weekend approaching, it appears that we will still have highs between 25 and 30 on Saturday and on Sunday a chance of snow coming into the picture. As it stands now, there is no mention of any cold air coming into our area throughout the 7 day forecast period. It seems that it will remain rather mild (by Alaskan standards).
Insight to Fairbanks Climate courtesy of Wikipedia:
Fairbanks' climate is usually classified as subarctic with long, bitterly cold winters, and short, warm summers, in which much of the annual precipitation falls. In Fairbanks, winter lasts from late September/early October until late April/early May. October thru January are the snowiest, and snow is limited from February to May. On average, the season's first snow falls in Fairbanks on September 21 and the first inch of snow accumulates by October 8. The snow pack is established by October 18, on average, and remains until May.
Snow occasionally arrives early and in large amounts. On September 13, 1992, 8 inches of snow fell in the city, bending trees still laden with fall leaves. That September also was one of the snowiest on record, as 24 inches fell, compared to an average of 2.2 inches in the month.
Average winter low temperatures range from −15 °F to −25 °F, but extremes can range from 50 °F to −60 °F. In summer, temperatures typically range between 70 °F and 50 °F. Fairbanks did not record a 90 °F temperature between 1994 and 2009.
The highest recorded temperature in Fairbanks was 99 °F, while the lowest was −66 °F. The warmest year in Fairbanks was 1981, when the average annual temperature was 32.0 °F. The coldest year was 1956, which averaged a low of 21.3 °F.
Current Conditions at 6:30 a.m.:
Temperature: 4 degrees above zero
Skies: Cloudy
BP: 30.43 and falling
RH: 81%
Winds: Calm
Sunrise: 9:37 a.m.
Sunset: 3:34 p.m.
7 Day Outlook from the NWS:
Today...Cloudy. Snow north of Fairbanks spreading south. Snow accumulation 1 to 3 inches...heaviest north and east of Fairbanks. Patchy fog. Highs 10 to 25. Southwest winds to 15 mph.
Tonight...Cloudy. Periods of snow in the evening...then scattered snow showers after midnight. Patchy fog. Snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches. Total snow accumulation 2 to 5 inches...heaviest north and east of Fairbanks. Lows zero to 10 above. Southwest winds to 10 mph.
Friday...Mostly cloudy. Isolated snow showers in the morning. Patchy fog. Highs 10 to 20. Light winds.
Friday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows 5 to 15 above. Light winds.
Saturday...Cloudy. Highs 25 to 30. Light winds.
Saturday Night...Cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows near 10.
Sunday...Cloudy. Chance of snow. Highs near 20.
Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows near 10.
Monday...Mostly cloudy. Highs near 15.
Monday Night...Cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows near 10.
Tuesday...Mostly cloudy. Highs near 15.
Tuesday Night...Cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows near 5 above.
Wednesday...Mostly cloudy. Highs near 10.
With the weekend approaching, it appears that we will still have highs between 25 and 30 on Saturday and on Sunday a chance of snow coming into the picture. As it stands now, there is no mention of any cold air coming into our area throughout the 7 day forecast period. It seems that it will remain rather mild (by Alaskan standards).
Insight to Fairbanks Climate courtesy of Wikipedia:
Fairbanks' climate is usually classified as subarctic with long, bitterly cold winters, and short, warm summers, in which much of the annual precipitation falls. In Fairbanks, winter lasts from late September/early October until late April/early May. October thru January are the snowiest, and snow is limited from February to May. On average, the season's first snow falls in Fairbanks on September 21 and the first inch of snow accumulates by October 8. The snow pack is established by October 18, on average, and remains until May.
Snow occasionally arrives early and in large amounts. On September 13, 1992, 8 inches of snow fell in the city, bending trees still laden with fall leaves. That September also was one of the snowiest on record, as 24 inches fell, compared to an average of 2.2 inches in the month.
Average winter low temperatures range from −15 °F to −25 °F, but extremes can range from 50 °F to −60 °F. In summer, temperatures typically range between 70 °F and 50 °F. Fairbanks did not record a 90 °F temperature between 1994 and 2009.
The highest recorded temperature in Fairbanks was 99 °F, while the lowest was −66 °F. The warmest year in Fairbanks was 1981, when the average annual temperature was 32.0 °F. The coldest year was 1956, which averaged a low of 21.3 °F.
Current Conditions at 6:30 a.m.:
Temperature: 4 degrees above zero
Skies: Cloudy
BP: 30.43 and falling
RH: 81%
Winds: Calm
Sunrise: 9:37 a.m.
Sunset: 3:34 p.m.
7 Day Outlook from the NWS:
Today...Cloudy. Snow north of Fairbanks spreading south. Snow accumulation 1 to 3 inches...heaviest north and east of Fairbanks. Patchy fog. Highs 10 to 25. Southwest winds to 15 mph.
Tonight...Cloudy. Periods of snow in the evening...then scattered snow showers after midnight. Patchy fog. Snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches. Total snow accumulation 2 to 5 inches...heaviest north and east of Fairbanks. Lows zero to 10 above. Southwest winds to 10 mph.
Friday...Mostly cloudy. Isolated snow showers in the morning. Patchy fog. Highs 10 to 20. Light winds.
Friday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows 5 to 15 above. Light winds.
Saturday...Cloudy. Highs 25 to 30. Light winds.
Saturday Night...Cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows near 10.
Sunday...Cloudy. Chance of snow. Highs near 20.
Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows near 10.
Monday...Mostly cloudy. Highs near 15.
Monday Night...Cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows near 10.
Tuesday...Mostly cloudy. Highs near 15.
Tuesday Night...Cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows near 5 above.
Wednesday...Mostly cloudy. Highs near 10.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Wednesday, November 17th
Roller coaster. That's the first word that comes to mind when I finished reading the NWS's forecast this morning. Currently, we are sitting at 13 below zero (much warmer than predicted). So, we've hit the bottom of this roller coaster ride and now we are headed back up. Way up!
If the NWS is correct in their forecast, we will see temperatures up near 30 degrees by Saturday! They predict this trend to continue throughout the rest of the 7 day forecast period. Personally, I hope they are wrong. I do not look forward to a warming period followed by another cold snap followed by who knows what. I want off this roller coaster!
Another fun fact about Alaska:
Alaska has 17 of the 20 highest mountains in North America. Mt McKinley (Denali) is the highest at 20,320 ft, second is Mt Saint Elias, near Glennallen, at 18,008 ft. and Alaska has 15 National Parks.
Current Conditions at 6:30 a.m.:
Temperature: 13 below zero
Skies: Overcast
BP: 30.85 and falling
RH: 75%
DP: -16.6
Winds: Calm
Sunrise: 9:34 a.m.
Sunset: 3:37 p.m.
7 Day Outlook from the NWS:
Today...Mostly cloudy. Areas of flurries and patchy fog this morning. Highs zero to 5 above. Light winds.
Tonight...Mostly cloudy. Scattered snow showers developing north of Fairbanks after midnight. Areas of blowing snow developing over the hills. Lows 5 below to zero. South winds to 10 mph...except winds increasing to 15 to 25 mph over the hills.
Thursday...Cloudy with snow showers. Areas of blowing snow over the hills. Snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches...2 to 5 inches east of Fairbanks. Highs 20 to 30. West winds 10 to 15 mph...except 15 to 25 mph over the hills.
Thursday Night...Cloudy. Snow likely. Lows around 5 above. West winds around 10 mph.
Friday...Decreasing clouds. Highs 10 to 15. Light winds.
Friday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows near 5 above.
Saturday...Mostly cloudy. Highs near 30.
Saturday Night...Cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows near 20.
Sunday...Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow. Highs near 30.
Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows near 20.
Monday...Mostly cloudy. Highs near 30.
Monday Night...Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows near 20.
Tuesday...Mostly cloudy. Highs near 30.
If the NWS is correct in their forecast, we will see temperatures up near 30 degrees by Saturday! They predict this trend to continue throughout the rest of the 7 day forecast period. Personally, I hope they are wrong. I do not look forward to a warming period followed by another cold snap followed by who knows what. I want off this roller coaster!
Another fun fact about Alaska:
Alaska has 17 of the 20 highest mountains in North America. Mt McKinley (Denali) is the highest at 20,320 ft, second is Mt Saint Elias, near Glennallen, at 18,008 ft. and Alaska has 15 National Parks.
Current Conditions at 6:30 a.m.:
Temperature: 13 below zero
Skies: Overcast
BP: 30.85 and falling
RH: 75%
DP: -16.6
Winds: Calm
Sunrise: 9:34 a.m.
Sunset: 3:37 p.m.
7 Day Outlook from the NWS:
Today...Mostly cloudy. Areas of flurries and patchy fog this morning. Highs zero to 5 above. Light winds.
Tonight...Mostly cloudy. Scattered snow showers developing north of Fairbanks after midnight. Areas of blowing snow developing over the hills. Lows 5 below to zero. South winds to 10 mph...except winds increasing to 15 to 25 mph over the hills.
Thursday...Cloudy with snow showers. Areas of blowing snow over the hills. Snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches...2 to 5 inches east of Fairbanks. Highs 20 to 30. West winds 10 to 15 mph...except 15 to 25 mph over the hills.
Thursday Night...Cloudy. Snow likely. Lows around 5 above. West winds around 10 mph.
Friday...Decreasing clouds. Highs 10 to 15. Light winds.
Friday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows near 5 above.
Saturday...Mostly cloudy. Highs near 30.
Saturday Night...Cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows near 20.
Sunday...Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow. Highs near 30.
Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows near 20.
Monday...Mostly cloudy. Highs near 30.
Monday Night...Mostly cloudy. Chance of snow. Lows near 20.
Tuesday...Mostly cloudy. Highs near 30.
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